That, in turn, is leading to increased prices. Since June 15, corn prices have jumped 43%.

Unfortunately for moviegoers everywhere, that means that popcorn prices could be on the rise soon, too.

According to Garry Smith, President of Iowa-based JOLLY TIME Popcorn: “If [the price of corn] stays up in this area, then we have to be competitive to get a popcorn grower to grow popcorn. And so we’ll have to increase our contract price next year, and unfortunately that means there will be another consumer price increase.”

“The price is already at nose bleed levels, and I think consumers would balk at further price increases. And secondly – and probably more importantly – is that the popcorn portion of the product is a very, very low percentage. So an increase in the underlying commodity really won’t have much impact on margin for the retailer and hopefully they will absorb it.”